The Best Christmas Movies You Can Stream on Netflix

Watching Christmas movies is almost as big a tradition as the holiday itself, and there's no better place to turn for your entertainment than Netflix. Not surprisingly, the streaming service has already collected over a dozen films that tie in to the season and promise to bring you plenty of holiday cheer.

There are light-hearted comedies, dramas that tug at the heart-strings, musicals, dance extravaganzas, animated films, and the return of some old favorites (we're talking to you, Frosty!) In other words, there's a little something for everyone.

A Christmas Horror Story (2015)

The film consists of four stories that are tied to the Christmas holiday season, among them one in which the big guy takes on zombie elves and another where the anti-Santa Claus (Krampus) strikes out. A Christmas Story it ain’t.

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Bad Santa (2003)

This dark, politically incorrect comedy is a welcome addition to any Christmas film viewing list. Here's what Google says about this one: "The crotchety Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) reunite once a year for a holiday con. Posing as a mall Santa and his elf, they rip off shopping outlets on Christmas Eve. This year, however, Willie is falling apart. He's depressed and alcoholic, and his erratic behavior draws the suspicion of mall security (Bernie Mac). But when befriending a small boy brings out his kinder side, Willie begins to wonder if there is still some hope for him." Ah, maybe a little, but if he gets too much hope, this stuff stops being funny, and nobody wants that. Spawned the 2016 sequel Bad Santa 2.

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Christmas With the Kranks (2004)

All the Kranks (played by Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) want to do is get away on a cruise for Christmas to celebrate their first holiday alone in years. Unfortunately their neighbors are in the midst of the annual "best decorated street" competition, and the Kranks are finding themselves social outcasts because they're lacking the holiday spirit.

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Dear Santa (2011)

When a privileged woman (Amy Acker), who spends most of her time partying, falls in love with the owner of a soup kitchen (David Haydn-Jones), she comes across a letter written to Santa Claus by his seven-year-old daughter and becomes determined to prove to her that Christmas miracles do come true.

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Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

We all know the story of the Grinch and how he attempts to ruin the Christmas holiday for the people of Whoville, but thanks to little Cindy Who Lou and the spirit of her neighbors, he ultimately learns the true meaning of Christmas. Jim Carey is the Grinch, Taylor Momsen is Cindy.

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Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

Jim Varney plays plays taxi driver Ernest P. Worrell, who, it turns out, is the man that Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) has been looking for. It seems that the guy in red is looking for his successor and needs Ernest's help in finding him. Needless to say, things get complicated and Christmas could be in jeopardy.

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Get Santa (2014)

When Santa Claus accidentally crashes his sleigh, he turns to a father and son to help him find his reindeer so that he can return home. Santa is played by Jim Broadbent, the father by Rafe Spall and the son by Kit Connor.

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Gremlins (1984)

The rules are simple when it comes to the tiny "mogwai" creature: never expose it to bright light, do not feed it after midnight and keep it away from water. When all of these rules are broken, all hell breaks loose as the good gremlin, Gizmo, spawns what turns into an army of evil gremlins, who run rampant on Christmas Eve. For the record, Gizmo is so cute.

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Hector (2015)

A very different kind of Christmas story which focuses on Hector McAdam (Peter Mullen), a homeless man who every year travels on foot to London to a Christmas shelter. During the journey we learn how he went from the life he used to have to the one that finds him homeless.

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Legend of Frosty the Snowman (2005)

The return of Frosty the Snowman has a curmudgeonly school principal to become even more determined that there be no fun in town so that he can rule over the town's children and keep them in line. We don't think we're spoiling anything when we say that fun gets its day!

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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The King of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, inadvertently comes across Christmas Town and his imagination is so captured that he attempts to bring Christmas to his town, though nobody has any idea what he’s talking about. Actor Chris Sarandon provides the voice of Jack in this stop motion animated film, with composer Danny Elfman providing the character’s singing voice.

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Noel (2004)

Four Christmas tales taking place in New York City, following a variety of characters, including a woman (Susan Sarandon) who is in the hospital with her just-diagnosed-with-Alzheimer's mother; a man (Alan Arkin) who believes that a waiter is the reincarnation of his wife; while another man (Marcus Thomas) is intent on recreating a memorable Christmas from his youth.

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The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (2007)

It's really difficult to elaborate on this one much past the title: experience the magic that has become a Christmas tradition in New York City, without leaving the comfort of your favorite streaming device.

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The Ref (1994)

Denis Leary definitely picks the wrong house to rob when he is forced to take a couple hostage in their Connecticut home. They drive him crazy, because they simply won't stop fighting. The couple is played to great effect by Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey.

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Santa's Apprentice (2010)

Man, we're starting to feel guilty about looking forward to Santa Claus' arrival each year because it seems like the guy is always trying to find a successor. Wassup with that? In this animated feature he wants to retire, and turns his attention to a young orphan boy who may be the perfect candidate.

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White Christmas (1954)

Hey! Watch this one; it's a classic. A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general. The cast includes Bing Crosby, Danny Kate, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. Some nice Christmas music to boot.